Power Outage in Mitchell, SD

Several power poles were downed or snapped by wind. Property damage costs are rough estimates.

Numerous three inch limbs were taken down, along with a few power poles. Property damage costs are rough estimates.

Blizzard conditions led to a shutdown of government offices and schools, and travel was not recommended due to the widespread whiteout conditions. Interstate 90 was closed from late on April 10 through noon on April 12. Ice accumulation of one-quarter to one-half inch occurred prior to snowfall. Storm-total snowfall from 10 to 18 inches occurred, with 17.0 inches at Mount Vernon and 16.2 inches at Mitchell, matching the April 2-day maximum snowfall on record. Winds gusted at Mitchell as high as 69 mph, and many areas had snow drifts of several feet, making roads impassable. Spotty power outages occurred. Property damage costs include damage to utilities.

High winds from a westerly direction followed a low pressure system which had brought Christmas Day rain and thunderstorms. There were several reports of power lines and branches down and resulting power outages, as well as damaged traffic lights and signs. Building roof damage was reported 3 miles south of Mitchell. The winds included measured sustained winds over 40 mph and a peak gust of 64 mph at Mitchell.

Westerly winds behind a cold front reach sustained speed of 40 to 50 mph for a few hours. A gust to 76 mph was measured at Mitchell Airport. The high winds destroyed a grain dryer. The winds also caused power line and traffic light damage.

Freezing rain produced ice accumulations, estimated at a couple tenths of an inch or more. The freezing rain was followed by 2 to 5 inches of snow, including 4.2 inches at Mitchell. Strong northwest winds produced drifting snow and some areas of blowing snow. Roads were made very icy before becoming snow covered. A radio tower in Mitchell collapsed, there was damage to power lines and resulting power outages, and school classes were cancelled.

An extended period of precipitation began with freezing rain and freezing drizzle producing light to moderate ice accumulations, then changing to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations reaching 10 inches near Mitchell. Several branches and power lines were downed by the weight of ice and accompanying wind. The winter precipitation made travel very difficult to impossible, resulting in schools and businesses being forced to close.

Thunderstorm winds blew down power lines and caused tree damage, including several trees blown down.

Thunderstorm winds caused tree and power line damage, including several trees blown down. A house was damaged by a tree falling onto its roof.

Thunderstorm winds caused damage to trees and power lines.

Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage and blew down power lines, causing a power outage on the north side of Mitchell.

Thunderstorm winds caused tree and power line damage, with brief resulting power outages. The tree damage included large branches blown down. The winds were accompanied by three quarter inch diameter hail.

Snow accumulating 6 to 10 inches was accompanied by north to northeast winds gusting to around 40 mph. The combination resulted in visibilities frequently lowering to a quarter mile or less and, along with drifting snow, made travel difficult to impossible. Power outages were reported from snow weighting down power lines, and snow laden trees falling on lines. The 10 inch accumulation report was from Mitchell.

Snow, beginning briefly as rain, fell from around noon on April 10th to midday on April 11th. The snow accumulated 5 to 9 inches with the 9 inch report at Mitchell. the snow was accompanied by north winds averaging around 30 mph and gusting to 45 mph. This produced blizzard conditions for much of the time, with zero visibilities and drifting snow making travel impossible. Schools and numerous businesses were forced to close. Power outages were reported as some power lines were downed by the combination of wet snow and strong winds.

Freezing rain caused heavy icing of roads, trees, and power lines, and was accompanied by 2 to 5 inches of snow, with most of the snow preceding the freezing rain. Travel was brought to a standstill at places. Many vehicles slid off roads, and 13 were injured in 3 accidents. Ice accumulation was a quarter to a half inch over much of the area. The ice brought down tree branches and power lines, causing power outages.

Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including numerous branches blown down, some up to 5 inches in diameter. The winds also blew down power lines and bent power poles over, causing a power outage.

Thunderstorm winds blew down power lines and caused tree damage.

Thunderstorm winds damaged trees and power lines, causing a power outage.

Thunderstorm winds caused widespread tree and power line damage.

Thunderstorm winds caused widespread tree damage, including large trees and branches down. The winds also destroyed or damaged several large signs. The winds caused minor power line damage, causing localized power outages.

Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including several large branches blown down. One branch damaged a pickup truck when it fell. The winds also blew down power lines, resulting in power outages.

A wet microburst with winds estimated at 120 mph caused heavy damage in and around Mitchell. Apartments and several mobile homes were destroyed, vehicles were overturned, and other damage occurred to buildings and vehicles. Widespread tree and power line damage also occurred. Ten people were injured, although the majority of the injuries were minor. The damage path was approximately a mile and a half long and a mile wide, extending over the southwest part of Mitchell.

Thunderstorm winds caused tree and power line damage, blew part of the roof off a motel, blew down billboard signs, and caused minor damage to other buildings and vehicles.

Rain, freezing rain, and snow spread into southeast South Dakota late Friday December 29th and early Saturday December 30th. Significant accumulations of snow and ice were reported in the area near and between the James and Missouri Rivers before the precipitation decreased late on December 30th. The greatest ice accumulations were reported from Mitchell to Springfield, especially in western Hutchinson and Bon Homme Counties, where almost a half inch of ice accumulated in places. Tree branches and power lines were brought down by the ice with resulting power outages. Peak snow accumulations of 6 to 10 inches were a little west of this area over Jerauld, Aurora, Douglas, Charles Mix, and eastern Gregory Counties. Travel was slowed or brought to a standstill, and numerous vehicles slid off roads.